System and method for synchronized streaming of a video-wall

Abstract

A system is disclosed for processing and streaming real-time graphics by a video-server for synchronized output via secondary-network connected display adapters to multiple displays arranged as a video-wall. This system enables the video-server to leverage performance advantages afforded by advanced GPUs, combined with low-cost Smart displays or System-on-Chip devices to deliver advanced realtime video-wall capabilities over the network while offering flexibility in the selection of network display adapters and still achieving synchronized output of multiple sub-image streams to selected end-point displays. This has applications generally in the field of real-time multiple-display graphics distribution as well as specific applications in the field of network video-walls. A method and computer readable medium are also disclosed that operate in accordance with the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 divide a first frame of a sequence of frames into a plurality of sub-frames based on information associated with a plurality of displays to which the plurality of sub-frames are to be provided; 
 re-encode the plurality of sub-frames to obtain a plurality of re-encoded subframes; and 
 provide to a plurality of network display adapters a corresponding re-encoded sub-frame of the plurality of re-encoded sub-frames, comprising to:
 receive, via a network display adapter of the plurality of network display adapters, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame; 
 decode, via the network display adapter, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame to obtain a decoded sub-frame; and 
 crop, via the network display adapter, the decoded sub-frame to obtain a cropped sub-frame, wherein the cropped sub-frame is smaller than the decoded sub-frame; and 
 
 
 a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information associated with plurality of displays include a position, a resolution, a configuration, and settings for each display of the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein dividing the first frame of a sequence of frames into the plurality of sub-frames includes decoding the first frame based on the information associated with the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sub-frames is associated with a corresponding timestamp. 
     
     
       5. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 dividing a first frame of a sequence of frames into a plurality of sub-frames based on information associated with a plurality of displays to which the plurality of sub-frames are to be provided; 
 re-encoding the plurality of sub-frames to obtain a plurality of re-encoded subframes; and 
 providing to a plurality of network display adapters a corresponding re-encoded sub-frame of the plurality of re-encoded sub-frames, comprising:
 receiving, via a network display adapter of the plurality of network display adapters, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame; 
 decoding, via the network display adapter, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame to obtain a decoded sub-frame; and 
 cropping, via the network display adapter, the decoded sub-frame to obtain a cropped sub-frame, wherein the cropped sub-frame is smaller than the decoded sub-frame. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A method, comprising:
 dividing a first frame of a sequence of frames into a plurality of sub-frames based on information associated with a plurality of displays to which the plurality of sub-frames are to be provided; 
 re-encoding the plurality of sub-frames to obtain a plurality of re-encoded subframes; and 
 providing to a plurality of network display adapters a corresponding re-encoded sub-frame of the plurality of re-encoded sub-frames, comprising:
 receiving, via a network display adapter of the plurality of network display adapters, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame; 
 decoding, via the network display adapter, the corresponding re-encoded sub-frame to obtain a decoded sub-frame; and 
 cropping, via the network display adapter, the decoded sub-frame to obtain a cropped sub-frame, wherein the cropped sub-frame is smaller than the decoded sub-frame. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the information associated with the plurality of displays include a position, a resolution, a configuration, and settings for each display of the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein dividing the first frame of a sequence of frames into the plurality of sub-frames includes decoding the first frame based on the information associated with the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein dividing the first frame of a sequence of frames into the plurality of sub-frames includes processing the decoded first frame. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein processing the decoded first frame includes one or more of rendering, adding borders, adjusting aspect ratios, splitting, warping, and/or rotating. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the decoded first frame is processed using a graphics processing unit. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein plurality of sub-frames are re-encoded using the graphics processing unit. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of sub-frames are re-encoded into a compressed video frame. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sub-frames are re-encoded into the compressed video frame using a H.264 or Motion JPEG. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of network display adapters receive and synchronously output the plurality of sub-frames to the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of sub-frames is associated with a corresponding timestamp. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 6 , wherein corresponding timestamp is relative to a start time for the sequence of frames. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of sub-frames is associated with a corresponding latency offset. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the corresponding latency offset is pre-calculated. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the corresponding latency offset is dynamically calculated based on timing feedback.